Thank you!! I love this forum. I will get the pH a little closer to 6.8 before aerating.

One more question: What, besides fill water (my fill water alk is 170) causes the alk to increase? Would all those decomposing leaves that spent winter at the bottom of my pool be a culprit?

Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I value the information I get here.

Watermom, thanks for removing my duplicate posts.